ARE YOU AN

INSIDER

Meet One of the Most Successful (and Hilarious) Women in Australian Media

by
Lauren Powell

In honour of our co-founders Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power’s latest book, The Career Code: Must-Know Rules for a Strategic, Stylish, and Self-Made Career ($19), we’re running an interview series featuring 17 questions (to parallel the book’s 17 chapters) about the work lives of inspirational female leaders who are at the top of their fields. So far, we’ve tapped Lisa Gersh, Pip Edwards, Kelly Wearstler, and more. Next up? Paula Joye.

It’s hard to sum up Paula Joye’s brilliance in just a few sentences, but it’s safe to say that a plethora of gushing descriptions immediately spring to mind.

The journalist, media personality, and founder of The Joye is not only infectiously charming, effortlessly inspiring, and quick as a whip, but she’s so genuinely warm that it is a privilege to be in her company. She’s fun, fabulous, and has career portfolio so extraordinary, it’s hard to believe it’s actually real.

Joye began her career in the fashion cupboard at Vogue Australia working her way through the ranks before becoming editor of CLEO at just 27. By 2004, Paula had created and launched Madison and Shop Til You Drop magazines, and was editorial director of Cleo and Cosmopolitan all while being a spokespersons for women throughout her entire career (long before it became a trend). Read: The perfect candidate for our Career Code series. Scroll on for one of the the most inspiring career interview you’ll read to date.

1 / 17

I’m a journalist. Always have been. Whether it’s in print, online, or television, my job is the same and comes back to telling a story and creating compelling content. However day-to-day I’m also an accountant (very bad one), the cleaner, the tech guy… These days I wear all hats. Happily.

2 / 17

The lack of structure. No day is ever the same. I walked the same goat track for a lot of years in the corporate world. Same building, same desk, same set of deadlines–I’m surprised that you don’t necessarily need that kind of structure to be productive.

3 / 17

It was for a television show called Simon Townsends Wonder World and I remember it so clearly. Pale lilac blazer from Benetton, white 501s, and a white bodysuit. It was the early '90s and come to think of it, very 2017!

4 / 17

Jenna Lyons, Creative Director and President of J. Crew. She is genius and original in every single cell of her body. She’s a great example of style outside the stereotypes. I could watch her boil the kettle and learn something.

Related

Media is really great at letting the world know what it’s up to. So there are countless newsfeeds and websites that I visit regularly for updates. I’m big on continuing to learn and most years will do a course on something—last year it was one on coding. It’s important to keep on moving and updating your knowledge and skills.

6 / 17

I try not to have regrets because they’re truly futile and ultimately there’s no sense looking at a car wreck in the rear view mirror, however, I went back to work too soon after my second daughter was born and more recently, there was a lovely job that I declined for all the wrong reasons. So…onwards.

7 / 17

1. Manners—all too rare and highly prized.

2. Work Ethic–be disciplined, be present, be bursting out of your skin with good intention.

3. Honesty–don’t say your favourite website is The Economist if you prefer E! News. Honesty will always be rewarded and half-truths will bring you undone.

4. Communication skills–be able to look people in the eye, don’t fidget, answer a question while using your emotional intelligence as well as your IQ. And listen. The best communicators are the ones who listen thoroughly before they respond.

5. Humour—if you can’t laugh at yourself or a situation then you’re going to have a short and dull career.

Related

My mantra from novelist Jack London: You can’t wait for inspiration you have to go after it with a club.

When I launched Madison [magazine in 2004] I purposefully removed all print and pop culture references from the office. I wanted to give my team the unique opportunity of creating something from a truly blank page without any subliminal influences.

I live by London’s wisdom. You absolutely need to seek out inspiration. It will not magically turn up at your door step with a pony and bunch of flowers. Literally get up and walk to it. Head anywhere there isn’t a screen. Galleries, books, music, visit an antique shop, stop watching the Kardashians… LIVE.

Related

It’s been the same for years. At my desk and brought from home—baby spinach, cherry tomato, quinoa, coriander, and tuna salad. When I’m out give me a Vietnamese Pho any day of the week.

13 / 17

Expectation seems to have replaced ambition. Being hungry for success is a great attribute, but it’s important to understand that the most successful people have experience to back the hunger up. Expecting that success will come will never be a substitute for runs on the board. My advice to anyone starting out: make yourself indispensable, be the person who’s there when opportunity knocks, listen carefully all the time, back your own ability, respect yourself, always walk into a problem with a solution (even if it may be wrong), ask for extra responsibility, smile and dress for the job you want not the job you have.

Related

So, so many clever people on that platform, but at the moment I am enjoying the whimsy and beauty of Li Chi Pan.

15 / 17

In the morning, I exercise and then get the kids off to school. I don’t check my emails or social media until I’ve had a cup of coffee and visited my three favourite news and gossip sites. It’s ‘The Pause’ before I press start on my working day.

My evening routine needs some work. It’s a little broken. They only consistent thing I do is power off my phone completely and put it in another room. This year I’ve also made a concerted effort to have no screen time of any kind half an hour before bed. Have gone back to books in a bid to sleep off to sleep more gently.

16 / 17

Use your good things.

17 / 17

A new product line collaboration and a video series about fashion for real women.